Steam-generator.



PATENTED JULY- 9, 1907;

H. LEMP. STEAM GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED E3128, 1900.

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No. 859,305. I PATENTED JULY 9; 1907.

'H. LEMP.

STEAMGENBRATOR. APPLIOATIONIILVEQD 2113.38, 1900.

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ITNBSSES' ermannLemp UNITED STATES PATN much.

HERMANN LEMP, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

Specification of. Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN): Lanna citizen ofthe United States, residing at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts,

following is a specification.

Attempts have been made heretofore to utilize ge 1- erators or boilers for the rapid production of st am in automobiles, but without any substantial or permanent success, owing principally to the use of screw threaded unions for connecting the several sections of which the boiler was composed. It is not practical to make these boilers out of a single piece of tubing, owing to mechanical difficulties in the process of construction, and ior that reason when commercially produced, they have been made up of sections, and some form of joint employed between the sections. In boilers for such rapid generation of steam a comparatively small quantity of water is admitted at time, which water is converted into steam at some point during its passage a suitable fiame being employed unions to leak and thereby renders the boiler useless. I overcome the objections above pointed out by making the boilerin sections and electrically welding the sections together so that for all practical purposes the boiler is composed of an endless tube. When the joints are properly made it has been shown by careful tests that the tubes are as strong. at the joints as at any other point. These joints are situated directly in the path of the hot gases from the burner and no effort is made to protect them in any way. Furthermore the sections of the boiler have been so designed that the bending can be accomplished in a simple bending machine, and

each section is like every other. The construction of these sections as well as their relation to each other,

- and the consequent advantages thereof are more fully 40 described and claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the boiler and burner; Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section of a boiler taken on line 5, 5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the boiler with the top removed; Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one of the boiler grids as it appears before being welded to the other grids; Fig. 5 shows the preferred manner of connecting the boiler sections; Figs. 6 and 7 show diagrammatic illustrations of boiler connections made for the purpose of comparison; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a boiler constructed on a slightly modified plantand Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the boiler taken on line 16, 16 of Fig. 8.

The boiler or generator is composed of a series of have invented certain new and use-= ful Improvements in Steam-Generators, of which the grids I made up of seamless tubing of small bore but ,large cross section and shaped as shown in Fig.4. The grids may be bent into any suitable form, providing that when they are assembled spaces or fiues will be formed permitting the products of combustion to pass freely between the bottom and top, or between the sides providing it is desiredfto operate the boiler in that way. The form of grid shown in the drawing is one of the best on account of its simplicity since it can be made in an ordinary bending machine, and at the same time is readily handled in an electric welding machine of the Well-known Thomson type. Two ends or terminals 1 and I of substantially equal length are provided for each grid, the end orterminal I extending in the general direction oi the turns in the grid 'while the end or terminal I is at right angles thereto; in other words the ends extend toward a common point. The turns of the grid lie in a'common plane while the terminals e'xtend at a greater or less angle to the common plane of the turns and onopposite sides thereof. This feature in the construction permits oi the several grids being welded together without the addition of connecting piecsof any sort and without making sharp bends in the ends or terminals 1 and I Assuming that a number of grids have been made and it is desired to assemble them, two grids are mounted in the welding clamps in such manner that end I of one is in juxtaposition to end I of the other; this means that the tubes I of the second grid instead of being parallel with those of the first grid are at right angles thereto, thus forming a series of substantially square openings or fluesthrough. which the productsof combustion may pass. The second grid having been revolvedthrough an angular distance of 90 degrees, the weld between end I of the secondgrid, and end 90 1 of the third grid will be at point P, Fig. 3; and the neirt weld at I and so on, thus making a series of welds each angularly displaced from the other by approximately 90 degrees in a clockwise direction, or by a like amount in an anti-clockwise direction if the welding is started in the opposite direction.

Referring to the sectional'views, Figii. 1 and 2, it will beseen that vertical spaces are left between the tubes through which the products of combustion pass, that the grids occupy parallel planes, and that the position 100 of every fourth grid is like the first, in other words the joints have made a cycle and are at the position of starting. I I

All of the joints between the sections are subjected io'tho furnace flame, and no attcmptis made'to pro'- 105 tect them. On account of this feature of the construction I ani enabled to manufacture and sell to the users a boiler which can readily be mounted in the casing, and one which requires that only two joints shall be made, and these at the extreme ends. The old boiler 110 being employed to support the boiler-tube but not to assist in making steam. Connection between the engine, and water tank and the boiler tube is made at the ends, which ends may be located at the top and bottom of the mass of tubes or at intermediate points as will be hereinafter described. In any event the c nstruction should be such that the boiler tube can expand or contract without straining the connections.

' With the parts arranged as shown ealr grid is capable of moving independently, to a limited extent, oi every other grid in the boiler, and no matter how rapidly the temperature changes take place they are always compensated for. Again, the boiler tube, on account of its not being secured rigidly to the vehicle frame, is not subjected to strains due to obstructions .in the road.

shown as circular in cross-section, ,but tubes of any other cross-section may be substituted therefor. The top of the boiler has a cover K and is provided with fines K and K I 2 Situated under the boiler is the fire-box or chamber D. As here shown the casing which surrounds the boiler performs the same oflice for the fire box, but if desired a separate casing maybe employed and thetwo joined together. The fire box is substantially square, and located within the box and surrounding the burner is a circular coil of pipe .D for heating the feed water as it passes from the water tank to theboiler. The feed water pipe is connected to the upper end of the boiler byan external connection D and.by reason of its being located outside of the casing screw-threaded couplings can be employed. Located between the casing and the pipe is apacking D} of heat resisting material, which is supported by a frame piece D that also acts to support the coil of pipe.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 three different forms of boiler connections are shown. In Fig. 6 the feed water enters at the upper end and passes toward the bottom, leaving the lower end as superheated steam; this same form of connection is shown in Fig. 1. This is a desirblearrangement since it is very economical in the production of steam and the latter leaves the boiler at the very hottest point. It is objectionable, however, in that it subjects the boiler tube to very great train.

Fig. 7 shows a boiler in which the feed water enters at the tube where the flames are the hottest and the superheated steam leaves the pipe where the flames In the drawings, the tubes forming the grids are a connection I? is made to the lower end of the boiler, the water or steam or both then pass upward and the superheated stea1n leaves the boiler by pipe 1 In the drawing, four grids or sections are shown as being connected so that the passage. of steam and water is in one direction, and four so that they are in the dpposite as hot as in Fig. 6. Between the top and bottom of the boiler there is of course a difference in the temperature of the fire gases, but by taking steam at the point shown no particular difference in the character of the steam is noticed, and the tubes have along life.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a boiler is shown which is composed.-

of grids or sections welded together, but the relation of the grids differs slightly from that previously de- .1

scribed. Each grid is (omposed ofaseries of parallel tubes I connected by curved ends. Each grid is made out of a single piece of tubing bent back and forth on itself. The grids are electrically weldedin the manner previously described, but the disposition one on top ofr the other has been slightly altered. The space between the parailel tubes I is made as small as the 4 bending of the tubes will permit, and by placing the grids one over the other as shown, that is to say with the tubes of one grid midway between the tubes of the grid above and below it, the vertical chambers or passages I are smaller than when the tubes are'disposed one directly over the other. This arrangement tends to baffle or spread the flames more than in the first de- ,scribed construction.

The subject matter described and not claimed in this application will be found in my divisional applications bcaring the following serial numbers; 35,254, filed Nov. 2, 1900, 45,028, filed Jan. 28, 1901, and 46,313, filed Feb. 7, 1901. 1

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, fh-ave described the principle of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,

1. As :in article of umnufzicture. grid for-:1 boiler. comprising a single piece of tube bent hack and forth on itself. with terminals or end connections which extend toward a common point.

:3. Asteam generator composed of a series of grids. each grid comprising a single piece of tubing bent hack and forth on itself. the tubes forming one grid being located unguhirly with respect to the tubes forming :inoiher grid. :llh'l' the intermediate grids being provided wilh ends or term: mils of :1 length less than that of the grids. and which are so arranged that one of them is welded to an upper grid and the other to 11 lower grid.

3. 1n a steam generator lhe combination of :i plurality of tuhulungrids. each grid having two ends or terminals which extend toward :1 common point. with 'h-ciriiuill welded joinls bolu'ecn the ends of the grids.

comprising plurnliirof counterpart grids the uln-ruuning toward a common point, and electrically welded joints between the ends of the several grids, the said joints mak-. .ing an angular progression with. respect to a common center.

6. As an article oij-manufac'ture, a boiler composed of a plurality of grids, each grid being composed of parallel tubes I and ends or terminals 1 I- which extend substantialiy at right angles to each other, the end I of one section being welded to the end I of a second section..

7. As an article of manufacture, -a grid for a steam generator comprising a single piece of tubing bent back and forth to form a steam generating device and having two free ends, one end being substantially parallel with the main portions of the tube, and the other at substantially right angles thereto.

S. A steam generator composed of sections which rest upon one another, each section composed of a number of grids which rest on each other, each grid being capable of a slight movement independent ofthe other or others, and a connection between one section and the other.

0. As an article of manufacture, a boiler composed of sections, each section being made up of a coil of tubing, and a connection which extends from the inside end of one section across the outsideof the body of the second section, to its outside end. 1

10. As an article of manufacture, a grid for a steam generator, comprising a single piece of tubing having straight portions which are connected by curved end portions, with two terminal connections, one of which extends substantially parallel with the straight portion of the tube, while the other'extends substantially at right angles thereto.

11. As an article of manufacture, a section for a steam generator, comprising a continuous piece of tubing bent back and forth to form a substantially rectangular grid. with terminals which have a length equal to half that of the grid.

12. As an article of manufacture, a boiler comprising a plurality of counterpart grids of which every fourth one is positioned like the first, each grid being provided with terminals extending substantially at right angles to each other, the tubes-of the adjacent grids occupying positions at right angles to each other, and joints between the grids.

13. As an article of manufacture, a boiler comprising a coil of tubing divided into sections, each section comprising a plurality of connected grids, each having a long and a short end connection, a connection for conveying liquid into one of the coil sections at its coolest point, a

connection which unites the hottest portion'of said coil with the hottest portion of another section, andv a connection for conveying vapor from the coolest portion of the last-mentioned section. x

14. The combination of a burner,'a feed water coil adjacent thereto in which the how is in the direction of the fire gases, a steam generating coilsuperposed with respect to the burner in which the flow is counter to the tire gases. a superheating coilconnected with the generating coil in which the flow is in the direction of the fire gases,

a casing for the coils and burner, and a connection between the generating coil and feed water coil to the casing.

15. A grid for a boiler, comprising a tube coiled back and forth on itself several times and terminating midway of the sides ofthe grid.

16. A grid for a boiler, comprising a tube coiled back and forth on itself a number of times ,and terminating mid way of two adjacent sides of the grid.

17. A grid for a boiler, comprising a tube coiled back upon itself several times in a'cgmmon plane and having terminals which end mid-way of two sides of the grid and extend at an angle on opposite sides of the grid.

18. A grid for a boiler, comprising a coiled tube having 1 its ends located at the outside of the grid. one end extending ataslight angle above the general plane of the grid, and the other extending at a-slight angle below said plane,

one end terminating near the middle of one side of said grid, and the other near the middle of an adjacent side thereof.

19. A boiler composed of a plurality of grids each-comprising a coiled tube with both of its ends'located at the outside thereof, one end extending at a slight angle above the general plane of the grid, and the other extending at a slight angle below'said plane, said ends terminating near the middle of adjacent sides of the tions between adjacent ends of adjacent grids.

20. A boiler comprising a plurality of similar rectangular grids, each composed of a coiled tube whose ends terminate-at two sides thereof at points intermediate adjacent corners, the grids being so formed that when two or more have their ends connected, the lengths of tube in each grid are arranged substantially at right angles to those in the immediately adjacent grids. I 'Y 21. A steam generator composed of grids, each grid formed from a single piece of tubing bent back and forth on itself withits terrn'inalsextending toward acommon point, and connections between the terminals of adjacent grids which join the grids in a continuous superposed series.

In witness-whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February, 1900;

HERMANN LEMP.

Witnesses DUGALD 'MQKILLOP, CHAs. B. Bn'rnuNE.

which is exterior grid, and connec- 

